Prosecutor Reviewing Report On Bogus Fundraising Effort

February 12, 2018

The investigation is complete into allegations that a former Brighton woman accepted donations through a bogus online fundraising account.

The Brighton Police Department turned over their report last week into a potential fraudulent GoFundMe account called “Candace Kicks Cancer” that had been set up for Candace Streng. Brighton Police previously said there was enough information from independent sources to strongly suggest the account was fraudulently used to accept donations based on Streng’s claim to have stage four breast cancer. GoFundMe records show 399 people donated money totaling $31,645 since April 15th, 2017. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt tells WHMI that his office has received the report and it is now under review

Several fundraisers were held for Streng over the past year with friends rallying to her side. However, a statement from a group calling itself Candace's South Lyon Play Group said, "We were recently informed that our "friend” Candace lied for several years about struggling with stage four breast cancer. We let her into our homes, our families and our checkbooks. We had no prior knowledge of her deceit and are fully cooperating with the investigation. We sincerely hope Candace gets the help she so desperately needs." GoFundMe has closed the account, banned Streng, and is working with the Brighton Police Department to refund all the donors. (JK)